New Impulse Purchase - M1917 Eddystone

[cipherk98]

So I went to a gun show the other day and first thing I find in the door is an Eddystone M1917 at a reasonable price which caught my eye. Stand owner wasn't there so I took a walk through to see what else I could find, but didn't find anything else that was on my short list or at a price that made it had to have. Came back, talked to the owner, and wound up getting it for a bit less than it was marked at. Even came with an original leather sling though it is not in any shape to be used with the gun, though the cleaning kit was there. I've wanted one of these but hadn't really researched them, but the price was too good to pass up so I made my move.

The reason I got it at a good price as the gun is/was a bit rough condition wise. The most obvious issue is the stock was refinished with some kind of shellac or something while the bands were still on and the receiver was still in the gun. The hand guards were stuck to the stock and this goop was all down in the action! The other is that the bore is a bit questionable though using a .30-06 dummy round as a rough guide the muzzle doesn't seem to be TOO bad.

As for the stock and metal, it cleaned up great. Some denatured alcohol cleaned the nasty refinish up on the wood and the over application onto the metal. It did raise the grain a little but since the original finish seems like it is there under the wood I see no need to sand it, just rubbed it down in some BLO and called it a day. No before pictures but it was pretty rough looking before so this is an improvement. The parkerizing actually doesn't look too bad on the action aside from a couple odd wear spots on the left and the bolt stop, with the bands and barrel having the expected wear. Look as good as I can expect after oiling it, given it's approaching 100 years old and probably went through two World Wars.

Gun is mostly matching. The barrel and stock are original Eddystone as are most of the small parts, though the rear sight ladder/elevator is Remington. Notably it appears the bolt was replaced with a WWII K bolt which is a slight bummer but better for the gun as a shooter, though all the parts on it with visible external markings are Eddystone. The buttplate was painted black but I don't think that is correct either. Aside from the E on the end the stock it has a "C" with a cartouche above the trigger guard and a "9B" below it, near the heel and no P to indicate a refurb.

Not all of the pictures came out but here are a few, post clean up.








The reason they were on the wish list though is I have a family connection to these guns. My great grandfather worked at Baldwin Locomotive, I believe as a machinist or heavy equipment (ie press or forge) operator but it's lost to time. Not sure which shop he worked at and if he did actually work on these, but he was working there in this time frame which is good enough for me. Plus Eddystone is fairly local so that is cool too.

In taking it shooting I was happy with the end result. Group at 100 yards was pretty solid with off the shelf ammo. Took 6 shots, one sight in shot and one for the group. Averaged out to about 2", including the shot off to the left. Note the top left is not from keyholing, it's from the chicken wire tearing the paper when I took it off the target stand.



Overall really like shooting it. Not too loud and very mild kick. It does seem like the bolt could be a bit smoother when opening after firing and in general operation, so might need another coat of oil on it. Other than that I see this one getting shot a lot, especially as I plan to use .30-06 as my "starter" round for reloading.

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[pickax]

Well, it sure cleaned up well! I have a question about the bolt. Can you explain better about a K bolt? I've never heard of it.

[cipherk98]

My understanding is bolts stamped with K or USMC (United Shoe Machine Corp) are replacement bolts fitted to the guns when they were overhauled around WWII, as apparently the originals were prone to galling the receiver. I do not know if this gun actually ever was overhauled at an arsenal or was just a part someone put on afterwards.

[pickax]

Thanks, and enjoy that nice rifle!

[RC20]

The bolts are sticky on all of them . I belive its the metal mix (nickel with steel). Gives great strength for receiver but does not slide smoothly with the bolt of the same material.

Oddly no mention of that in any literature of WWI I have read. 1903 is far smoother (though of course they had the receiver issue.) Worst WWII bolt in an 1903A3 is better.

It would seem to be a combat issue but again nothing said. Odd

Pure speculation that it was better then and age changed the surface chemically so not so great now.

That said, its miner for me, more a question than a curiosity and while I like shooting a great deal, I get a kick out of the 1917s. Something that just grabs me and those have my heart.

[Seaspriter]

The reason they were on the wish list though is I have a family connection to these guns. My great grandfather worked at Baldwin Locomotive, I believe as a machinist or heavy equipment (ie press or forge) operator but it's lost to time. Not sure which shop he worked at and if he did actually work on these, but he was working there in this time frame which is good enough for me.

You'd probably really appreciate knowing more of the history of the Eddystone plant your grandfather worked at. You can access it at:
http://www.remingtonsociety.org/the-story-of-eddystone/

[MOS-45B]

Nice 1917. Above average.

A letter "K" stamped on the underside of the bolt handle would identify this as a Kingsbury bolt made in WW 2.

If a letter "K" were stamped on the top side of the bolt handle, it would be an Eddystone bolt made during WW 1.

Eddystone stamped the top side of their bolts with letters A through Z for some reason.

[RC20]

Darn it, now I will have to look!

I will add that the nickel steel mix is more complicated than just strong, though it is that.

Its highly desirable character is it stretches rather than burst.

So if you push it too far its should not fragment.

Having seen a Model 70 Winchester do that recently (fragment) you have to wonder if they have gone backwards.

While the shooter got some of his teeth knocked out (scope) and an adjutant shooter got a smack on the cheek its better than what it could have been.

[cipherk98]

You'd probably really appreciate knowing more of the history of the Eddystone plant your grandfather worked at. You can access it at:
http://www.remingtonsociety.org/the-story-of-eddystone/

Thanks for the link. Very interesting reading. I honestly don't have any real proof my great grand father ever worked on the gun lines as the original plant around Broad & 15th Street were closer to where I believe his family lived at that time around Port Richmond and Fishtown with other Polish immigrants. As with the work he did at Baldwin, most of that information is unfortunately long gone. That said Baldwin still built a number of wonderful locomotives that I get to visit every so often at local museum that has several, including 3 or 4 in operation.

Nice 1917. Above average.

A letter "K" stamped on the underside of the bolt handle would identify this as a Kingsbury bolt made in WW 2.

If a letter "K" were stamped on the top side of the bolt handle, it would be an Eddystone bolt made during WW 1.

Eddystone stamped the top side of their bolts with letters A through Z for some reason.

Thank you for the compliment. The K is on the underside as is the proof, so it would then be a WWII bolt.

Edit: Wanted to add, hopefully two months from now I'll get to shoot a CMP-style match with this rifle as it fits with the theme (US Bolt) and really see it (and I!) do. Depending on when my ammo comes in I may do next month's as well.

[MOS-45B]

My grand father was a locomotive engineer from 1905 to about 1954. He operated Baldwin, (and other) steam and diesel locos on the Baltimore and Ohio Line.

Baldwin made hundreds of steam locos for the Baltimore and Ohio during the first half of the 20th century. I got to go for rides in the cabs of those monsters when I was a kid.

Your 1917 is a great shooter. 2 inch groups at 100 yards is excellent for an Enfield. I am getting 4 inch groups with my low serial Eddystone and quite content with that.